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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee


Committee Chair
Morgan Krause, MPH, MSN-Ed, RN, PCCN


Immediate Past Chair
Nie Bohlen, MSN, RN


Board Liaison
Valerie Brockman BSN, RN, CAISS, CSTR

The STN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee oversees strategic initiatives that advance DEI throughout STN and its programs to support clinician wellbeing and the delivery of optimal trauma care to all people. DEI Committee members are appointed to serve for two years with the opportunity for reappointment to a second two-year term.

The DEI Committee welcomes input from STN members regarding areas of interest, concern, or engagement. Feedback submitted through this form helps inform future initiatives and priorities

How does STN define DEI?

  • Diversity: The range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, and personal beliefs.
  • Equity: The fair and just treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement of all people.
  • Inclusion: The act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate.

DEI Committee Duties

  • Develop the STN DEI agenda in collaboration and with approval from the STN Board of Directors.
  • Establish programs and processes designed to increase diversity and promote equity and inclusion within STN’s membership.
  • Identify and promote opportunities to increase diversity in STN committee and volunteer leadership.
  • Collect, analyze, prepare, and disseminate information and data to support DEI initiatives.
  • Develop educational programming and resources to raise awareness of and increase knowledge about health equity and DEI issues within the trauma nursing community.
  • Collaborate with STN’s Research Committee to develop a research agenda that supports DEI objectives.
  • Collaborate with the STN Government Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) Committee to advocate for populations who are underserved, uninsured, and affected by violence and/or who face barriers to access to trauma services.
  • Provide periodic reports and recommendations to the STN Board of Directors.
  • Participate in virtual monthly committee conference calls and perform tasks as assigned to support committee goals.

Requirements to Serve

  • Active or Associate STN member in good standing.
  • Desire to invest time, talent, and energy to advance STN initiatives that promote diversity, health equity, and inclusivity as a means of ensuring the delivery of optimal trauma care for all people.
  • Availability for a one-hour monthly teleconference and the ability to allocate up to an additional 3 hours each month to complete assigned volunteer tasks.
  • Knowledge of or interest in acquiring knowledge of best practices in the establishment of programs, projects, and processes that foster DEI within a profession, industry, and/or community.

Application/Submission Requirements

  • Volunteer interest form
  • CV or biosketch
  • Two professional references

Volunteer for an STN Committee

Nie Bohlen is an experienced nurse leader with expertise in program management, performance improvement, and fostering a culture of quality and safety. She is highly skilled in leading multidisciplinary teams, providing education, and enhancing patient care systems. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Nie is committed to ensuring inclusive practices in healthcare settings.

Nie currently serves as the Director of Trauma, Burn, and Children’s Surgery Verification at Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Her extensive experience includes roles at institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, and Scripps Green Hospital.

Nie holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, where she specialized in Clinical Systems Management. She is an active member of numerous committees, including the Society of Trauma Nurses' DEI Committee and the Trauma System Advisory Committee for the State of Rhode Island.


Valerie Pelin Brockman is a trauma nursing leader with a passion for building inclusive systems, advancing equitable data practices, and developing the next generation of trauma professionals. She brings a commitment to ensuring that all receive optimal trauma care.

Valerie serves as Trauma Data Manager for UCHealth Southern Colorado, where she leads regional trauma registry operations across a 10-facility network spanning Level I through non-designated trauma centers. She also serves as a nurse reviewer for Colorado Trauma Designation reviews, Digital Editor for the Journal of Trauma Nursing, and was recently elected as a Director-at-Large on the STN 2026 Board of Directors.

As Board Liaison to the DEI Committee, Valerie is committed to advancing awareness of the full spectrum of diversity — recognizing that a deeper understanding of the unique perspectives and experiences within the trauma nursing community strengthens our collective ability to serve every patient and support every nurse across the network.